Classification of methods

Status: In force

Classification of methods

RESOLUTION OENO 9/2000

CLASSIFICATION OF ANALYTICAL METHODS

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,

IN CONSIDERATION of  Article 5, Paragraph 4 of the International Standardization Convention on Methods of Wine Analysis and Rating of October 13, 1954,

ACTING ON THE PROPOSAL of the Sub-Committee on Methods of Wine Analysis and Rating,

HEREBY DECIDES to establish a four-category classification of the methods of analysis published in the Compendium of International Methods of Analysis of Wines and Musts.

The methods shall be classified as follows:

  • CATEGORY I* (CRITERION BENCHMARK METHOD): A method which determines a value that can be arrived at only by implementing the method per se and which serves, by definition, as the only method for establishing the accepted value of the parameter measured (e.g., alcoholiometric  content, total acidity, volatile acidity, reducing sugars).
  • CATEGORY II* (BENCHMARK METHOD): A category II method is designated  as the Benchmark Method in cases where category I methods cannot be used. It should be selected from category III methods (as defined below). Such methods should be recommended for use in cases of disputes and for calibration purposes. (e.g., potassium, citric acid).
  • CATEGORY III* (APPROVED ALTERNATIVE METHODS): A category III Method meets  all of the  criteria specified by the Sub-Committee on Methods of Analysis and is used for monitoring, inspection and regulatory purposes (e.g., enzymatic determinations of glucose and fructose).
  • CATEGORY IV (AUXILIARY METHOD): A category IV Method is a conventional or recently-implemented technique, with respect to which the Sub-Committee on Methods of Analysis has not as yet specified the requisite criteria (e.g., synthesized coloring agents, measurement of oxidation-reduction potential).

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* Methods requiring formal approval in accordance with the procedures in force at the Sub-Committee on Methods of Analysis.

N.B. : Should the present resolution be adopted, the notations accompanying the classification of the resolutions « in accordance with the classification set forth in the Codex Alimentarius » (Turbidity, oeno/scma/98/82 and Oxidation-Reduction Potential, oeno/scma/96/39) shall be replaced by the following notation : « in accordance with the classification of the methods of analysis set forth in the OIV. »